This week saw completion of a three month basic training course for the Somali Coast Guard organised by EUCAP Nestor in co-operation with EUTM Somalia and UNSOM participation.
The course aimed at enabling 29 Somali participants to familiarise themselves with the role of civilian police, based on the latest international police standards, with a particular focus on maritime policing issues.
To this end, various scenarios with practical sessions about real life situations were presented by EU and other international experts. Basic knowledge about human rights and the Rule of Law was also part of the programme.
Among topics the Somali cadets were exposed to and learnt about during the course were: intervention techniques; detention and use of non-lethal force; conflict prevention including handling, negotiation and mediation; forensic techniques; radar navigation and map reading.
Prosecutors from the Somalia Attorney General’s Office delivered lectures in Criminal Procedure Law, sharing practical examples with the Coast Guard students. This saw welcome interaction between the Coast Guard and the prosecutors.
A closing ceremony for the course was held on August 6 in Mogadishu with the participation of the National Security Adviser Somalia Sheik Issa; the Head of Somali Coast Guard, Admiral Nourey; EUTM Somalia Commander General Maggi and the Head of EUCAP Nestor Field Office Pierre-Aime Riccio.
During the ceremony the cadets demonstrated the knowledge and skills acquired while on course. This included use of maritime radar, collection and securing trace evidence from crime scenes, safely handcuffing suspects in various situations and executing body searches with and without metal detectors.
EUCAP Nestor is a civilian EU mission, under the auspices of the Common Security and Defence Policy, which assists host countries in the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean region to strengthen capacity to ensure maritime security and in particular to fight piracy.
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